The Israeli embassy issued a statement this evening (Thursday) in which it expressed great concern about the activities of Iranian airlines, under the guise of a Venezuelan company, in Latin America.
A statement from the embassy in Buenos Aires said: "Israel is particularly concerned about the activities of the companies Han Air and Qashim Air Fares, which use Iran to supply weapons and equipment for the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, which is under US sanctions."
"Recent events have shown an ongoing attempt by the Islamic Republic of Iran, through the Quds Force and the Revolutionary Guards, to try to establish its influence around the world, and also in South America, as a basis for terrorist activities on the continent." "By criminals working with Koch Hakods in Colombia," the embassy statement said.
The embassy announcement refers to the flight delay and arrest of eight Iranian crew members in Argentina, after flying on a plane belonging to a Venezuelan airline but formerly used by the Iranian company Mahan Air, which is used by the Revolutionary Guards to transfer weapons and manpower to its terrorist missions across the Middle East.
Earlier today it was reported that a Venezuelan plane, which until two weeks ago belonged to the Iranian airline Mahan Air, was forced to stay in Bolivia on Tuesday for its 200 passengers who were on their way to Argentina and are now stuck at La Paz International Airport.
The plane belonging to Conviasa, Venezuela's national airline, was forced to remain in place for fear of being confiscated, as part of the US State Department's sanctions policy against Venezuela's and Iran's airlines.
Another 250 passengers, who were waiting for a flight back from Buenos Aires, also became hostages of a conflict between Argentina, Venezuela and Iran.
Quds Force members of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria // Quds Force personnel of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria,
This is the second time this month that a plane has been grounded due to the international conflict.
Last time, on June 8, Argentina's legal authorities grounded a Venezuelan Emtrasur Boeing 747 carrying 19 Venezuelan citizens and five Iranians, including a pilot named Golmarza, who Argentina believes had ties to the Revolutionary Guards.
The captain of the plane then stated that they were "transferring spare parts for a car" for Volkswagen Argentina, but the car company rejected any contact with the flight, crew or goods.
On Tuesday, a local judge decided to confiscate the plane until the end of the proceedings, after the day before the police confiscated equipment as well as the passports of the crew members during a raid on the hotel where they were staying, in an attempt to find out what was behind the mysterious flight.
"This is a joint intelligence operation by SEBIN (Venezuela's intelligence service) and Iranian intelligence," Argentine opposition congressman Gerardo Milman told Israel Today earlier this week.
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